Can't imagine any reason why I would need to move 1/4".
I like to put all my horsepower on the ground, not waste 30% of it through a fluid driven transaxle.

1739 M. F. with loader, HST , Box blade, disc and cutter 0% for 6 years. No Plastic . Will be adding grabble soon. No problems after 1 year. Purchased in Dothan.

I’ve driven one a lot. But, I prefer a gear tractor. If I was just cutting grass around the house, it would be different. I admit it is easier to use a bucket with a hydrostatic transmission. But, I’ve been driving a gear tractor my entire life and that is what I prefer.

Same here. I have owned both and prefer gears personally.

Detail work with the loader in tight quarters. I have graded right up to the house.

Also using the tractor as a helper when doing construction projects by myself.

Actual HP difference is only about 15% according to the dealer.

I’ve got a 37 hp John Deere 4x4 and I really like it. Mine has the power reverser where you can change directions from forward to reverse with flipping of a lever, without ever slowing down.

Hydro stat is great for a lawnmower... Which is exactly what a 35hp tractor is.

What kind of transmissions do most big wheel loaders, excavators, etc have?

Man, this is way more confusing than buying a car or truck, something of which at least I know a little about.

From what I can gather, if I might eventually want both a front end loader and a back hoe, I probably should go ahead and get those up front with the tractor, because they seem pretty rare to find them for sale individually... And they appear to be specific to each type and brand of tractor. On the other hand stuff that attaches to the 3 point hitch like, Rotary cutters, box blades, scrapers, etc... Are pretty much universally available.

Something I found out today while I was researching the John Deere and Yanmar tractors, is that the Small Yanmars and the John Deere are basically the same tractors and are all made by Yanmar. (This was from the guy at the Yanmar place.)

If I was going to buy new, the best deal right now seems to be the John Deere 1023E for $12,599, with the 60 month extended bumper to bumper warranty and 60 months 0% financing. This is from Ag-Pro in Piedmont. This also includes free pick up and delivery for the entire 60 months of warranty. So basically all that stuff is included the whole time you are making the payments.

The same Yanmar tractor is more expensive and to get 0% it cost even $2000 more. This from the Yanmar dealer over in Atlanta.

That looks to be pretty comparable to the Kubota BX2380. Check with Snead in Centre, AL. They have some really good prices on tractor packages.

Keep. In mind you'll need dual remotes for both a backhoe and front loader. Small tractors are not gonna have remotes and it's an expensive upgrade. Personally I would choose the FEL and forget the backhoe. They're too much trouble, too expensive and makes changing implementation a chore.

On those sized tractors the backhoe is all self contained. The backhoe for the John Deere is $7000. Hell... That's 2/3rds the price of the tractor with the FEL!

There's a guy on facebook that has a backhoe for that little John Deere for "only" $4500 and it's practically new. I'm thinking seriously about financing the John Deere at $12500 for 60 months at 0% and then just buying the backhoe from that guy with cash. Right now that seems to be the deal.

Yep... I'm checking with them next.

I would definitely get a 4 wd with a FEL in that size tractor, and would just hire out any backhoe work that I needed. But it's your retirement and you have earned whatever toys you want.

When I mentioned Yanmars earlier, I was only talking about the old ones that have been remanufactured, like this one:

https://cdn2.equipmenttrader.com/v1...?width=512&height=384&quality=60

https://www.fredricksoutdoor.com/yanmar


That's less money than the JD you are considering, and it's way more tractor. There are plenty of parts available for the more common old Yanmar models, and any shadetree can work on them. Yanmar has been in and out of the USA market and I would be skeptical about buying one of their new ones.

Good luck deciding.

You’ll never regret bigger. To me the heavier the better in a tractor. But buy what you want and you’ll make it work the way you want!! Love your cabin thread! When in piedmont holler at me!

Irish if you buy a new tractor make sure the tires are loaded.

Not that you asked, but that 1023 isn’t really big enough to do anything. It is only 14.5 pto horsepower, and will only pick up 681 lbs. I seriously doubt it will hold up to anything more than cleaning a horse stall or hauling mulch. The other thing to consider is that a 4’ implement will be maxing it out, and 4’ stuff is a lot harder to come by used than 5’ stuff, which is harder to find than 6’ stuff.

Something in the 40hp range is a lot more versatile machine, but is still on the small side for dirt work.

Or buy this:

That 1023 is just a big lawnmower. You will not be able to any real work with it.

That’s just goofy as hell.